Snowmobile-Related Injury

Online April 25, 2014

K. Dean Gubler, DO, MPH, FACS

The recreational and work-related use of snowmobiles has become increasingly popular in the northern climates of North America and Europe. As snowmobile use has increased so has snowmobile-related injury and death. Although the application of snowmobile use may vary and result in a wide variety of injuries, head and neck injury followed by drowning most commonly account for snowmobile-related fatalities.1-7 Soft tissue, nerve, and skeletal trauma are the most prevalent injuries associated with non-fatal snowmobile related trauma.5,6-8 Snowmobile-related injury is preventable.

Although the demographics of snowmobile-related trauma are less well studied and are not generally known they seem familiar. Males are killed or injured three times more frequently than females. The association of alcohol use and snowmobile-related injury has been clearly documented.3,4,7,10-11 Most deaths are from head injury and occur as a result of the operators striking fixed objects such as wires and trees. Others are killed or injured falling off snowmobiles or by being run over. Other injuries result from loading or unloading, burns, and falling through thin ice resulting in drowning, frostbite, or hypothermia. Children are not immune and are frequently injured when being towed when their sled or other object overturn or when they are struck by the object or another vehicle.

Interventional studies demonstrating the effectiveness of injury prevention strategies for snowmobile-related injury and death are lacking. However, recommendation of the committee on injury and poison prevention of the American Academy of Pediatrics when modified to be generally applied suggest that snowmobile-related injury could be avoided.6

Recommendations*

Recreational operation of snowmobiles is inappropriate for children and adolescents.

Snowmobilers should travel at safe speeds, especially on unfamiliar or rugged terrain where hazards, such as difficult-to-see barbed wire, may be encountered.

Snowmobilers should avoid the use of alcohol or other drugs before or during the operation of a snowmobile.